Thursday, March 13, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Small Profit for the Week
The net result since my last post is about 3k to the positive. I had a couple of small wins then lost 6.5k Thusday and won almost 7.5k yesterday. The day I lost big was totally my fault as I sat in a tough 10-20 game and found myself on the bad side of a couple rivers and an ugly setup. The point is I should not have sat in the game because it was me against the Bellagio regulars who don't really give anything away.
Up until last night I ran pretty bad most of the week. I took the day off yesterday opting to sit by the pool with Kathy and followed it up with a little shopping at the fashion mall across from the Wynn. She arrived late Thursday so we could spend some quality time before her friends arrived last night for a 3-day stagette.
I'm off to meet by buddy Jon for a steak dinner and then will be off to the tables one more time. I have not yet booked my ticket home because I will be playing the HOSE event tomorrow and if I make it through to the final table I will have to be here until Tuesday. If I get knocked before then I will book a flight for Monday.
Overall, I'm happy with my play. There is a lot of money to be made here however the edge in the 10-20 is noticably small because it is usually made up of the regulars who know what they are doing and if you run bad you lose. The 5-10s play big for 5-10s and for the most part are made up of fish and rocks so really it is a stress free game that should turn an average profit between 2-3k a session. In hindsight, I should have stuck to this game everyday as I would most likely be up more money. Oh well, live and learn.
Key hands:
Hand #1:
I had 87 of spades UTG and limped. Everybody folded to an aggressive fish on the button who raised to $50. He had about 3k and I had him covered so I decided to call. The flop was 456 all hearts. I checked he bet $120. I decide to call here thinking I have the best hand, but I don't want to build a big one until I see one more card that isn't a heart. The turn is the K of diamonds, I check he bets $260. I raise to $600. He ponders and reraises to $1600 leaving himself just over 1k behind. I think for a bit and feel that with a big flush he would have raised less to keep me in the hand. As well, his heart was pounding like a guy who just finished running a marathon so I felt at best he had a hand like KKK and was nervous about what I would do. I decided to push allin, he pondered and eventually folded. He later told me he had AK with K of hearts. Hmmm, I think more like AK off as I think he would put his last 1K in with the heart redraw giving what was already invested. If he did have the heart I'm happy he folded because the way I run it surely would have fallen on the river.
Hand #2:
UTG preflop raise to $40 and I call from the big blind with K4 of hearts after 4 call. The flop is K64 two clubs. I check preflop raiser bets $140 and all fold to me. I raise to $420 and he calls. The turn is an offsuit J and I lead out $600. The preflop raiser makes it another $1000 to go. At this point we are both over 10k deep and he is a relatively good aggressive player. I feel I'm in a vulnerable spot out of position. I had noticed he limps with small pairs from early position and felt that the only hands I could be losing to were KK and KJ. On the other hand, I could be beating AK, AA, or K plus flush draw, which he is very capable of raising the turn to check the river if he didn't improve. I decide to flat call with intentions of calling a big river bet if a dud fell. If he bet the river it would likely be a bluff or KK. I think with KJ he would check fearing I flopped a small set. The river was an offsuit 3, I check he checks I show he mucks and says 'so sick'. Hmmm, I spend $30 more to see a flop and I outflop him...so sick. Next time don't bet thousands against me with one pair after I check raise you on the flop dumbass.
Hand #3:
Playing in the 10-20 game against a very aggressive tricky bluffing machine. I have JJ and reraise the bluffer who opens 50% of the pots, making it $400 to go. He calls and the flop is 855 two hearts. He checks I bet $550 he calls. The turn is an offsuit K he checks I check. River is another 5 and he bets $900. I ponder for awhile and feel I have to call as he could so easily have a busted straight or flush draw as his range is any two. I cannot beat K8, K with flush draw, 88, or the case 5. As it turns out he has a real hand AK of hearts. I'm kind of lucky we don't play a bigger pot there. He tells me against anyone else he would have jammed the flop, but told me he liked me so he played it soft. I believe it as we generated a good rapport leading up to the hand, and he most certainly had a lot of gamble in him.
Hand #4:
Same game but now down to 5 players. Myself, 3 Bellagio regulars, and some young drunk kid that just sat in the game. I raise off the straddle to $14o with KJ of hearts. The kid, in his third hand of the session, defends. The flop is A73 two hearts. He checks I bet $200 and he check raises to $550. The kid has about $3000 behind the raise so I call hoping to hit my flush (my percentage of hitting a flush has steadily increased to about 1 in 15 so I felt I was almost getting the odds). Anyway, the turn is the 7 of hearts and he checks. I fire out for $700, he hesitates for about 10 seconds then declares allin. I call right away as it is so likely he has a smaller flush or a hand like AQ with Q of hearts. Of course, he tables 33 for a fullhouse and I'm drawing dead.
Hand #5:
Same game but earlier in the night. I raise to $80 UTG with QQ and get 5 callers. The flop is 1075 rainbow and I check, likely to raise but also to see the action to the hand. It gets checked around and the turn is a 3. I fire out for $320 and am smooth called by a very solid player then get raised another $1000 by a different tight player. I end up mucking convincing myself that the kid must have turned a set of 3s to make that move. After the hand he said he bluffed, sure.... What was interesting about that hand though was later on when talking to the solid player, my buddy Amron, he told me he had AA and was first intending to slow play, but once I checked the flop he said he thought I was checking to raise with 1010 and decided to check for pot control. Very interesting....I thought I blew the pot. Usually he would bet for information regardless, I guess he felt very strong about that read. Anyway, thought that was an interesting hand.
Hand #6:
In a different 1020 game couple nights back I had AA. I rather tight player limped UTG and another tight player raised to $120. I made it $380 to go and had 4 callers, which was rare for this game with a raise, reraise. The flop came down J53 two clubs and they all checked to me. I bet $750 and they all folded to the last guy who check raised me all in for another $2500. This player does not put his chips in lightly so I knew he was big. I did not have the A of clubs so he could have an AK or AQ of clubs hand. With KK he most likely would have reraised with all those callers and took his chances I didn't have AA. So that leaves the flush draw QQ or JJ. I was in a tough spot and figured 50/50 he would show me JJ. Someone put the clock on me rather quickly, which I thought was in bad taste as I usually made decisions faster than most, but I took the time bank down to 3 before finally deciding to call. He shows JJ and I lose.
Hand #7:
Last night in a 510 game I had AA and raised to $50 after one fish limped. We end up heads up and the flop came 642 with two clubs. He checked I bet $100 he called. The turn was an offsuit 9, he checked I bet $300 he check raised to $600 with another $1300 behind. I decided to flat call as he could have any two and I felt I could ascertain his strength by how scary the river is and how big his bet would be. The river pairs the 2 and he fires for $450. I really felt I had him beat and should put him allin. I deliberated for a minuted but eventually chickened out and just called. He shows Q9 off, nice flop call... I was mad about not putting him in. I think he may have called if I shoved based on later play in the night.
Hand #8:
I had AQ off and limped off the straddle as the game was very loose with several calling stations. First, I hate that hand and second, I could not isolate this field for $100 so may as well see if I can hit a flop. As it turns out a couple call and the straddle who has shown to be rather tight raises to $120. He was reasonably deep so I decided to call with position and three go to the flop. The flop is Q82 with two spades. He bets out $250 and I decide to call to see how hard he pushes the turn. I think I had the best and could extract value later in the hand if he checked and I bet through, to get paid off by 1010 or JJ. We end up heads up and the turn pairs the Q, he leads out again this time for $500. I decide to raise with the flush draw out there and if he had a big pair he may call through. I make it another $800 on top. He ponders and shoves all in for another $1400. I call the river pairs the 2 and he shows KQ suited. Damn, chop chop.
Hand #9:
In the same game have Q8 of hearts on the button after several limpers. A mega fish who is deep thanks to a couple suckouts makes it $100 to go from the small blind. One guy calls so I decide to see a flop as the fish may be steaming from losing a pot on the previous hand. The flop is 872 rainbow and he leads out for $200. The other player calls, who is also deep, and I decide to call to see the action on the turn. At this point, I think I may be winning as the fish could have anything and the other guy is likely calling with a pocket pair between the 2 and 7 (he is too tight to see a flop that hits the 7 or 8, hopefully he didn't flop set). The turn pairs the 8 and the fish leads out $500. The other guy folds and I decide to flat call so I don't lose my customer. The river is a 3 and the fish leads out for another $500. I knew by the turn that the fish had a hand and with the small river block bet I knew he was afraid I had the 8. I decide to raise another $1,200, unfortunately he folds 1010 face up. Would have like to get paid there but at least I got another $500 out of him on the river by not raising the turn.
Hand #10:
In a 1020 five handed game I get KQ of diamonds on the button and raise to $80 and both blinds defend. The flop was J104 two hearts. They check I bet $210 and am check raised to $500 and I call as I think he is strong and with a 9 on the turn I could get paid big givin we are both over 10k deep. The turn is a Q and he fires for $750. I don't really think I'm winning here, but I think I can take this one down with a raise. I had not shown any bluffs for awhile and he could easily give me credit for a straight. I raise him $1500 on top and he tanks for awhile, finally folding J10 face up. Whew....
There's a lot more hands to talk about, but I've run out of time, gotta go for dinner. I have had alot of interesting hands play out this week with alot of tough decisions. I did not get very many no brainers and was put to the test with marginal hands in big pots. Hopefully I can make one more big score tonight and follow it up with a good result in the tourney tomorrow. So looking forward to the tourney tomorrow....
I'll probably not post again until I fly home next week. Looking forward to getting back to spend some time with Kathy, Braeden, and my buds. As well, I hear the boys are itching to take my money in the stud game...game on.
Cheers,
Up until last night I ran pretty bad most of the week. I took the day off yesterday opting to sit by the pool with Kathy and followed it up with a little shopping at the fashion mall across from the Wynn. She arrived late Thursday so we could spend some quality time before her friends arrived last night for a 3-day stagette.
I'm off to meet by buddy Jon for a steak dinner and then will be off to the tables one more time. I have not yet booked my ticket home because I will be playing the HOSE event tomorrow and if I make it through to the final table I will have to be here until Tuesday. If I get knocked before then I will book a flight for Monday.
Overall, I'm happy with my play. There is a lot of money to be made here however the edge in the 10-20 is noticably small because it is usually made up of the regulars who know what they are doing and if you run bad you lose. The 5-10s play big for 5-10s and for the most part are made up of fish and rocks so really it is a stress free game that should turn an average profit between 2-3k a session. In hindsight, I should have stuck to this game everyday as I would most likely be up more money. Oh well, live and learn.
Key hands:
Hand #1:
I had 87 of spades UTG and limped. Everybody folded to an aggressive fish on the button who raised to $50. He had about 3k and I had him covered so I decided to call. The flop was 456 all hearts. I checked he bet $120. I decide to call here thinking I have the best hand, but I don't want to build a big one until I see one more card that isn't a heart. The turn is the K of diamonds, I check he bets $260. I raise to $600. He ponders and reraises to $1600 leaving himself just over 1k behind. I think for a bit and feel that with a big flush he would have raised less to keep me in the hand. As well, his heart was pounding like a guy who just finished running a marathon so I felt at best he had a hand like KKK and was nervous about what I would do. I decided to push allin, he pondered and eventually folded. He later told me he had AK with K of hearts. Hmmm, I think more like AK off as I think he would put his last 1K in with the heart redraw giving what was already invested. If he did have the heart I'm happy he folded because the way I run it surely would have fallen on the river.
Hand #2:
UTG preflop raise to $40 and I call from the big blind with K4 of hearts after 4 call. The flop is K64 two clubs. I check preflop raiser bets $140 and all fold to me. I raise to $420 and he calls. The turn is an offsuit J and I lead out $600. The preflop raiser makes it another $1000 to go. At this point we are both over 10k deep and he is a relatively good aggressive player. I feel I'm in a vulnerable spot out of position. I had noticed he limps with small pairs from early position and felt that the only hands I could be losing to were KK and KJ. On the other hand, I could be beating AK, AA, or K plus flush draw, which he is very capable of raising the turn to check the river if he didn't improve. I decide to flat call with intentions of calling a big river bet if a dud fell. If he bet the river it would likely be a bluff or KK. I think with KJ he would check fearing I flopped a small set. The river was an offsuit 3, I check he checks I show he mucks and says 'so sick'. Hmmm, I spend $30 more to see a flop and I outflop him...so sick. Next time don't bet thousands against me with one pair after I check raise you on the flop dumbass.
Hand #3:
Playing in the 10-20 game against a very aggressive tricky bluffing machine. I have JJ and reraise the bluffer who opens 50% of the pots, making it $400 to go. He calls and the flop is 855 two hearts. He checks I bet $550 he calls. The turn is an offsuit K he checks I check. River is another 5 and he bets $900. I ponder for awhile and feel I have to call as he could so easily have a busted straight or flush draw as his range is any two. I cannot beat K8, K with flush draw, 88, or the case 5. As it turns out he has a real hand AK of hearts. I'm kind of lucky we don't play a bigger pot there. He tells me against anyone else he would have jammed the flop, but told me he liked me so he played it soft. I believe it as we generated a good rapport leading up to the hand, and he most certainly had a lot of gamble in him.
Hand #4:
Same game but now down to 5 players. Myself, 3 Bellagio regulars, and some young drunk kid that just sat in the game. I raise off the straddle to $14o with KJ of hearts. The kid, in his third hand of the session, defends. The flop is A73 two hearts. He checks I bet $200 and he check raises to $550. The kid has about $3000 behind the raise so I call hoping to hit my flush (my percentage of hitting a flush has steadily increased to about 1 in 15 so I felt I was almost getting the odds). Anyway, the turn is the 7 of hearts and he checks. I fire out for $700, he hesitates for about 10 seconds then declares allin. I call right away as it is so likely he has a smaller flush or a hand like AQ with Q of hearts. Of course, he tables 33 for a fullhouse and I'm drawing dead.
Hand #5:
Same game but earlier in the night. I raise to $80 UTG with QQ and get 5 callers. The flop is 1075 rainbow and I check, likely to raise but also to see the action to the hand. It gets checked around and the turn is a 3. I fire out for $320 and am smooth called by a very solid player then get raised another $1000 by a different tight player. I end up mucking convincing myself that the kid must have turned a set of 3s to make that move. After the hand he said he bluffed, sure.... What was interesting about that hand though was later on when talking to the solid player, my buddy Amron, he told me he had AA and was first intending to slow play, but once I checked the flop he said he thought I was checking to raise with 1010 and decided to check for pot control. Very interesting....I thought I blew the pot. Usually he would bet for information regardless, I guess he felt very strong about that read. Anyway, thought that was an interesting hand.
Hand #6:
In a different 1020 game couple nights back I had AA. I rather tight player limped UTG and another tight player raised to $120. I made it $380 to go and had 4 callers, which was rare for this game with a raise, reraise. The flop came down J53 two clubs and they all checked to me. I bet $750 and they all folded to the last guy who check raised me all in for another $2500. This player does not put his chips in lightly so I knew he was big. I did not have the A of clubs so he could have an AK or AQ of clubs hand. With KK he most likely would have reraised with all those callers and took his chances I didn't have AA. So that leaves the flush draw QQ or JJ. I was in a tough spot and figured 50/50 he would show me JJ. Someone put the clock on me rather quickly, which I thought was in bad taste as I usually made decisions faster than most, but I took the time bank down to 3 before finally deciding to call. He shows JJ and I lose.
Hand #7:
Last night in a 510 game I had AA and raised to $50 after one fish limped. We end up heads up and the flop came 642 with two clubs. He checked I bet $100 he called. The turn was an offsuit 9, he checked I bet $300 he check raised to $600 with another $1300 behind. I decided to flat call as he could have any two and I felt I could ascertain his strength by how scary the river is and how big his bet would be. The river pairs the 2 and he fires for $450. I really felt I had him beat and should put him allin. I deliberated for a minuted but eventually chickened out and just called. He shows Q9 off, nice flop call... I was mad about not putting him in. I think he may have called if I shoved based on later play in the night.
Hand #8:
I had AQ off and limped off the straddle as the game was very loose with several calling stations. First, I hate that hand and second, I could not isolate this field for $100 so may as well see if I can hit a flop. As it turns out a couple call and the straddle who has shown to be rather tight raises to $120. He was reasonably deep so I decided to call with position and three go to the flop. The flop is Q82 with two spades. He bets out $250 and I decide to call to see how hard he pushes the turn. I think I had the best and could extract value later in the hand if he checked and I bet through, to get paid off by 1010 or JJ. We end up heads up and the turn pairs the Q, he leads out again this time for $500. I decide to raise with the flush draw out there and if he had a big pair he may call through. I make it another $800 on top. He ponders and shoves all in for another $1400. I call the river pairs the 2 and he shows KQ suited. Damn, chop chop.
Hand #9:
In the same game have Q8 of hearts on the button after several limpers. A mega fish who is deep thanks to a couple suckouts makes it $100 to go from the small blind. One guy calls so I decide to see a flop as the fish may be steaming from losing a pot on the previous hand. The flop is 872 rainbow and he leads out for $200. The other player calls, who is also deep, and I decide to call to see the action on the turn. At this point, I think I may be winning as the fish could have anything and the other guy is likely calling with a pocket pair between the 2 and 7 (he is too tight to see a flop that hits the 7 or 8, hopefully he didn't flop set). The turn pairs the 8 and the fish leads out $500. The other guy folds and I decide to flat call so I don't lose my customer. The river is a 3 and the fish leads out for another $500. I knew by the turn that the fish had a hand and with the small river block bet I knew he was afraid I had the 8. I decide to raise another $1,200, unfortunately he folds 1010 face up. Would have like to get paid there but at least I got another $500 out of him on the river by not raising the turn.
Hand #10:
In a 1020 five handed game I get KQ of diamonds on the button and raise to $80 and both blinds defend. The flop was J104 two hearts. They check I bet $210 and am check raised to $500 and I call as I think he is strong and with a 9 on the turn I could get paid big givin we are both over 10k deep. The turn is a Q and he fires for $750. I don't really think I'm winning here, but I think I can take this one down with a raise. I had not shown any bluffs for awhile and he could easily give me credit for a straight. I raise him $1500 on top and he tanks for awhile, finally folding J10 face up. Whew....
There's a lot more hands to talk about, but I've run out of time, gotta go for dinner. I have had alot of interesting hands play out this week with alot of tough decisions. I did not get very many no brainers and was put to the test with marginal hands in big pots. Hopefully I can make one more big score tonight and follow it up with a good result in the tourney tomorrow. So looking forward to the tourney tomorrow....
I'll probably not post again until I fly home next week. Looking forward to getting back to spend some time with Kathy, Braeden, and my buds. As well, I hear the boys are itching to take my money in the stud game...game on.
Cheers,
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Last Week of Trip
Just one more week of playing until I return to Winnipeg. I most certainly will not be achieving my goal of 100k after expenses. I got off to a horrible start in LA and consequently could not build my roll enough to play in the bigger games where big money is made.
The Wynn continues to be kind to me overall as I have now posted six consecutive wins, most recently winning $1,500 Saturday and $4,700 Sunday. Saturday was especially fun as a bunch of Winnipegers got together for a sushi dinner and followed it up with a little $200 cap PLO. The game was a shootout with allins almost every hand. I finally gave up after losing my fifth consecutive rollem hand and headed over to a juicy 10-20nl across the room. Many of the guys played all night, and in fact Jon Hanec played through to Sunday night. Needless to say when I came to visit him 24 hours later he was in need of some sleep and a shower.
Today may have been the best day of the entire trip, with exception to seeing my girfriend of course. I would like to let everyone know how I schooled Mr. Seabiscuit on the golf course. Originally, it was supposed to be four of us but two guys jammed leaving Groovy and I to battle it out heads up. The stakes were match play $100 front and $100 back with Trav giving me a hole a side. We pushed on the front and I closed out the match on 17. He had it two up overall after 12, but after a par, par, birdie, par, bogey run I dusted him easily :) He blamed his collapse down the stetch on lack of sunlight and cold. Ha, I think he couldn't take the pressure as he is used to battling Angst and Grimes who typically choke when it counts. When played back at he folded like a cheap tent. To top it off he pressed 18 double or nothing and choked. My drive hit a fairway bunker and nestled up against the lip, so gross, reminds me of my bad luck on 18 against Todd all the time. Trav hit it 300 down the middle. My third, still shooting out of the bunker, travelled to the 150 stick, the hole was a 530 par 5. Trav elected to lay up due to a huge canyon in front of the green. My forth ended up 3 yards off the green about 35 feet from the hole. Trav chunked his wedge approach nearly dunking it in the canyon before the green, but ended up leaving it 40 feet short of the hole on the fringe. I went up and down, he went up and down in three. Chop chop, I still win $200.
I think I will be mounting those two Benjamin Franklins on the wall at home next to the 10 other ones I won off Todd last year, what generous friends I have. No matter what happens in golf this summer I own bragging rights for the next couple months. Maybe you could take some of your poker winnings and get some earlybird lessons there Trav?
I will be playing strictly cash over the next week except for Sunday's $1000 HOSE tournament. I really feel like I have an edge in the mix tournaments so I'm going to give it a shot. Its so hard to take time out for tournaments, especially if I keep running well and booking wins in cash games.
Last night's game was the most aggressive I have played in in a long time. There was a very tough european/asian/internet player (=agressive, agressive, agressive), a guy nicknamed Boxer who I've seen on a couple WPT final tables, and most notably The Grinder. The game played very LAG. The only reason I played is because I had position on the Internet kid and the Grinder and because there was some golf pro in the game who was very deep and very fishy. My stack was up and down for most of the session as I won and lost a few small and medium sized pots, and won a big pot. I played very tight as the Grinder and the internet kid were opening 70% of the pots and would take alot of heat with a wide range of hands, putting pressure on their opponents when they felt they could push them off pots. So I felt waiting for big edge situations was the best strategy. I have to say, the Grinder really does play tough. I have played with him in tournaments a few times, and alot of limit poker online back in the day, but this was the first time I played deep stack nl cash with him. His reads were great, his pressure was heavy, and his range was so wide you could not peg him for a hand under any circumstances. No wonder he owns the poker world. Of course, if my poker bankroll was in the mulit-millions I could probably play a more open style too!
I apologize but I cannot see to remember most of my key hands of late, or maybe I'm just too lazy to describe them, so the highlights will be short.
Hand #1:
In a loose 5-10nl playing deep. Kid raises to $50 after one limper and I call in position with A4 of diamonds, 4 see the flop. Flop is 653 rainbow and the kid bets $200, I call everyone else folds. The turn is the 9 of diamonds bringing in a diamond draw. The kid bets $400 and I elect to call as he is deep and I don't think he is the kind of player who would laydown an overpair, which is what I put him on. The river is an A and he checks. I bet $600, he calls, I show, he mucks.
Hand #2:
I am playing a five handed 10-20nl with a straddle, so the game is playing big. I have AJ off in the small after several callers to the straddle and I elect to call. Sometimes I would raise but the problem is 2 players are calling stations so I must hit to win and being out of position I didn't see value in raising. Anyway, flop is A87 rainbow and it gets checked around. The turn is another A, which brings in a flush draw and I check again. A pretty solid asian kid bets out $140 one guy calls, I jack it to $450. The asian kid calls, the calling station folds and the river is a J. Sweet the nuts. I bet out $900 and he calls with A7. No matter what the river was my bet would be the same. I put him on an A or a big 8 and not a draw and givin my J kicker I would have to bet for value. I love no brainers.
Hand #3:
Same game a littler earlier, actually three hands into the session I pick up QQ. A fishy asian guy raises to $140 off the straddle and I make it $500. He calls and the flop is 732 rainbow. He checks and I bet $800. I wanted to bet heavy for three reasons. One, I felt I had the best hand as he looked like a tourist who would surely reraise preflop with KK or AA. Second, I wanted to look reckless playing a big pot three hands into the session. And three, he looked like a calling station based on the few hands I watched from the rail. Anyway, he pondered for a minute shook his head and said 'I dunno, you probably have the best hand, but whatever, I'm all in', which was for another $2750. Three hands in and I had a tough decision. It didn't take me long to call though because I truly believed he was telling the truth with his words and I put him on a mid pair. After I called he tabled JJ and rivered a J. Great way to start the session. I proceeded to get stuck close to 6k in the game within an hour against a rather fishy lineup. Luckily, by the end of the session I turned a $1,500 profit.
Hand #4:
Back to last nights game. I had QJ suited on the button and called a raise of $100 from the internet kid with 5 people to the flop. The flop comes down QJ4 all spades and the action is checked to me and I bet $375. The internet kid calls and we are heads up. The turn is an offsuit 3 and he checks. I do have a strong hand here but something smells fishy. I felt he could have an AK or A10 hand with a spade otherwise he had monster. I don't know what else he could check call with, but would not bet out with. Anyway, I give a free card also inducing a bluff river by him if he had nothing, which is definately in his range. The river is a red 7 and he fires for $900 and I call rather quick. He shows A6 of spades for the nuts. Ugly situation, but that pot could have been bigger if he leads out on the flop.
Hand #5:
Earlier in the session I pick up a beautiful no brainer, maybe the best of the trip. The internet kid raises to $80 in early position, the Grinder calls, and I call on the button with AK hearts. More often than not I would reraise with this hand on the button, but givin how deep and tricky my opponents are and givin the fact I have been playing tight and I do not want to give away the strength of my hand, I decide to call. The flop is QJ10 rainbow, hmmm am I dreaming? The kid leads out for $250 and the Grinder calls. I feel that both opponents have strong hands and I decide to raise to build what I believe could be a double up pot. I make it $700 total, the internet kid calls and Grinder folds, later saying he had 98 (maybe/maybe not). The turn is the 5 of clubs bringing in a club draw. The kid checks and I bet $1,200. He asks me what I have left I tell him about $3,000 more. He quickly puts out 5 yellow chips putting me allin. I snap call and he says, 'shit, you got AK?' I say yes he chuckles and says 'gimmie a club then' and he shows KQ of clubs. The river bricks for once and I scoop a 10k pot.
Hand #6:
Playing a rather LAG 5/10 game. I'm deep and pick up 1010 and raise it from early position to $50. A loose deceptive player calls from mid position as do 3 others. The flop comes down 843 rainbow and I bet out $175. The deceptive player calls everyone else folds. The turn is a 7 and I feel I have the best, but I feel my opponent is dancing around those cards so I bet out a heavy $450. He thinks and decides to raise to $1000. I tank for a bit and convince myself he has a touch draw like 76, 54, 64, 53, etc... I feel with a set or straight he will let me bet out the river as he only has another $1000 after the raise so I go allin, he shrugs and folds. Later he told me he had K6 and floated to make a move on me.
Hand #7:
It was a rather tight agressive 5/10 game, the same game Travis value towned me with 106. I was pretty card dead all session and finally picked up JJ. I raised and was called by a tough player Trav and I call 'Black Hat', because he's always wearing a black hat...go figure. Anyway, I flop a complete no brainer with J22 two hearts. I lead out $100 and he calls. The turn is a J which is overkill, but I think I have to continue betting because I think he will check behind with a lot of hands. He is a good player and knows I will check call alot of hands on this non-bluffing board. So I make it $200 and he calls. At this point I think he has a pocket pair or a flush draw. The river brings in the Q of hearts and I rather quickly lead out for $500. He tanks for a minute and folds showing me a 2. Damn, stupid turn card may haved cost me a double up as we were both over 5k deep. He told me he would have called if the river wasn't a heart. In other words, no way would I barrel on a JJ22Q river flush board with air, so I must have the jack. In hindsight, I should have check raised the river as he would have bet $500 and likely folded to a check raise. I underestimated his ability to fold and thought he would pay me off with what I thought was a flush (note: if he had pocket pair I figured he would fold on that river and certainly check behind if I checked, so I concluded betting was optimal for value...I was wrong).
On a side note, that game got tougher after Travis called it a night. We got down to 5 handed and Greg 'FBT' Mueller hopped in the game. He is aggressive and pretty solid. Also, he overbets everything making the game play much more like a 10-20 or 15-30nl.
There are many other tough medium sized pots that I just cannot put to mind right now. However, I want to talk about one more hand that I was not involved in, but illustrates just how sick the Grinder is.
Hand #8:
The Grinder straddles and about 5 people call. He reraises to about $240 and only the internet kid calls. The flop is A86 rainbow. The kid checks and Grinder bets $300 the kid calls. The turn is a J and the kid checks. Grinder thinks for a minute and bets out $600, the kid hesitates and calls. The river is a 3, the kid checks, and Grinder says 'Well, looks like I don't have to bluff the river, I know you have 97 or 910 so that makes my pair of three's good'. Grinder shows 34 off, the internet kid chuckles and says good play your right and mucks.
I'm going to go down and play right now. Its pretty late but I had a nap and am ready to go. I'll try to update by mid week.
Cheers,
The Wynn continues to be kind to me overall as I have now posted six consecutive wins, most recently winning $1,500 Saturday and $4,700 Sunday. Saturday was especially fun as a bunch of Winnipegers got together for a sushi dinner and followed it up with a little $200 cap PLO. The game was a shootout with allins almost every hand. I finally gave up after losing my fifth consecutive rollem hand and headed over to a juicy 10-20nl across the room. Many of the guys played all night, and in fact Jon Hanec played through to Sunday night. Needless to say when I came to visit him 24 hours later he was in need of some sleep and a shower.
Today may have been the best day of the entire trip, with exception to seeing my girfriend of course. I would like to let everyone know how I schooled Mr. Seabiscuit on the golf course. Originally, it was supposed to be four of us but two guys jammed leaving Groovy and I to battle it out heads up. The stakes were match play $100 front and $100 back with Trav giving me a hole a side. We pushed on the front and I closed out the match on 17. He had it two up overall after 12, but after a par, par, birdie, par, bogey run I dusted him easily :) He blamed his collapse down the stetch on lack of sunlight and cold. Ha, I think he couldn't take the pressure as he is used to battling Angst and Grimes who typically choke when it counts. When played back at he folded like a cheap tent. To top it off he pressed 18 double or nothing and choked. My drive hit a fairway bunker and nestled up against the lip, so gross, reminds me of my bad luck on 18 against Todd all the time. Trav hit it 300 down the middle. My third, still shooting out of the bunker, travelled to the 150 stick, the hole was a 530 par 5. Trav elected to lay up due to a huge canyon in front of the green. My forth ended up 3 yards off the green about 35 feet from the hole. Trav chunked his wedge approach nearly dunking it in the canyon before the green, but ended up leaving it 40 feet short of the hole on the fringe. I went up and down, he went up and down in three. Chop chop, I still win $200.
I think I will be mounting those two Benjamin Franklins on the wall at home next to the 10 other ones I won off Todd last year, what generous friends I have. No matter what happens in golf this summer I own bragging rights for the next couple months. Maybe you could take some of your poker winnings and get some earlybird lessons there Trav?
I will be playing strictly cash over the next week except for Sunday's $1000 HOSE tournament. I really feel like I have an edge in the mix tournaments so I'm going to give it a shot. Its so hard to take time out for tournaments, especially if I keep running well and booking wins in cash games.
Last night's game was the most aggressive I have played in in a long time. There was a very tough european/asian/internet player (=agressive, agressive, agressive), a guy nicknamed Boxer who I've seen on a couple WPT final tables, and most notably The Grinder. The game played very LAG. The only reason I played is because I had position on the Internet kid and the Grinder and because there was some golf pro in the game who was very deep and very fishy. My stack was up and down for most of the session as I won and lost a few small and medium sized pots, and won a big pot. I played very tight as the Grinder and the internet kid were opening 70% of the pots and would take alot of heat with a wide range of hands, putting pressure on their opponents when they felt they could push them off pots. So I felt waiting for big edge situations was the best strategy. I have to say, the Grinder really does play tough. I have played with him in tournaments a few times, and alot of limit poker online back in the day, but this was the first time I played deep stack nl cash with him. His reads were great, his pressure was heavy, and his range was so wide you could not peg him for a hand under any circumstances. No wonder he owns the poker world. Of course, if my poker bankroll was in the mulit-millions I could probably play a more open style too!
I apologize but I cannot see to remember most of my key hands of late, or maybe I'm just too lazy to describe them, so the highlights will be short.
Hand #1:
In a loose 5-10nl playing deep. Kid raises to $50 after one limper and I call in position with A4 of diamonds, 4 see the flop. Flop is 653 rainbow and the kid bets $200, I call everyone else folds. The turn is the 9 of diamonds bringing in a diamond draw. The kid bets $400 and I elect to call as he is deep and I don't think he is the kind of player who would laydown an overpair, which is what I put him on. The river is an A and he checks. I bet $600, he calls, I show, he mucks.
Hand #2:
I am playing a five handed 10-20nl with a straddle, so the game is playing big. I have AJ off in the small after several callers to the straddle and I elect to call. Sometimes I would raise but the problem is 2 players are calling stations so I must hit to win and being out of position I didn't see value in raising. Anyway, flop is A87 rainbow and it gets checked around. The turn is another A, which brings in a flush draw and I check again. A pretty solid asian kid bets out $140 one guy calls, I jack it to $450. The asian kid calls, the calling station folds and the river is a J. Sweet the nuts. I bet out $900 and he calls with A7. No matter what the river was my bet would be the same. I put him on an A or a big 8 and not a draw and givin my J kicker I would have to bet for value. I love no brainers.
Hand #3:
Same game a littler earlier, actually three hands into the session I pick up QQ. A fishy asian guy raises to $140 off the straddle and I make it $500. He calls and the flop is 732 rainbow. He checks and I bet $800. I wanted to bet heavy for three reasons. One, I felt I had the best hand as he looked like a tourist who would surely reraise preflop with KK or AA. Second, I wanted to look reckless playing a big pot three hands into the session. And three, he looked like a calling station based on the few hands I watched from the rail. Anyway, he pondered for a minute shook his head and said 'I dunno, you probably have the best hand, but whatever, I'm all in', which was for another $2750. Three hands in and I had a tough decision. It didn't take me long to call though because I truly believed he was telling the truth with his words and I put him on a mid pair. After I called he tabled JJ and rivered a J. Great way to start the session. I proceeded to get stuck close to 6k in the game within an hour against a rather fishy lineup. Luckily, by the end of the session I turned a $1,500 profit.
Hand #4:
Back to last nights game. I had QJ suited on the button and called a raise of $100 from the internet kid with 5 people to the flop. The flop comes down QJ4 all spades and the action is checked to me and I bet $375. The internet kid calls and we are heads up. The turn is an offsuit 3 and he checks. I do have a strong hand here but something smells fishy. I felt he could have an AK or A10 hand with a spade otherwise he had monster. I don't know what else he could check call with, but would not bet out with. Anyway, I give a free card also inducing a bluff river by him if he had nothing, which is definately in his range. The river is a red 7 and he fires for $900 and I call rather quick. He shows A6 of spades for the nuts. Ugly situation, but that pot could have been bigger if he leads out on the flop.
Hand #5:
Earlier in the session I pick up a beautiful no brainer, maybe the best of the trip. The internet kid raises to $80 in early position, the Grinder calls, and I call on the button with AK hearts. More often than not I would reraise with this hand on the button, but givin how deep and tricky my opponents are and givin the fact I have been playing tight and I do not want to give away the strength of my hand, I decide to call. The flop is QJ10 rainbow, hmmm am I dreaming? The kid leads out for $250 and the Grinder calls. I feel that both opponents have strong hands and I decide to raise to build what I believe could be a double up pot. I make it $700 total, the internet kid calls and Grinder folds, later saying he had 98 (maybe/maybe not). The turn is the 5 of clubs bringing in a club draw. The kid checks and I bet $1,200. He asks me what I have left I tell him about $3,000 more. He quickly puts out 5 yellow chips putting me allin. I snap call and he says, 'shit, you got AK?' I say yes he chuckles and says 'gimmie a club then' and he shows KQ of clubs. The river bricks for once and I scoop a 10k pot.
Hand #6:
Playing a rather LAG 5/10 game. I'm deep and pick up 1010 and raise it from early position to $50. A loose deceptive player calls from mid position as do 3 others. The flop comes down 843 rainbow and I bet out $175. The deceptive player calls everyone else folds. The turn is a 7 and I feel I have the best, but I feel my opponent is dancing around those cards so I bet out a heavy $450. He thinks and decides to raise to $1000. I tank for a bit and convince myself he has a touch draw like 76, 54, 64, 53, etc... I feel with a set or straight he will let me bet out the river as he only has another $1000 after the raise so I go allin, he shrugs and folds. Later he told me he had K6 and floated to make a move on me.
Hand #7:
It was a rather tight agressive 5/10 game, the same game Travis value towned me with 106. I was pretty card dead all session and finally picked up JJ. I raised and was called by a tough player Trav and I call 'Black Hat', because he's always wearing a black hat...go figure. Anyway, I flop a complete no brainer with J22 two hearts. I lead out $100 and he calls. The turn is a J which is overkill, but I think I have to continue betting because I think he will check behind with a lot of hands. He is a good player and knows I will check call alot of hands on this non-bluffing board. So I make it $200 and he calls. At this point I think he has a pocket pair or a flush draw. The river brings in the Q of hearts and I rather quickly lead out for $500. He tanks for a minute and folds showing me a 2. Damn, stupid turn card may haved cost me a double up as we were both over 5k deep. He told me he would have called if the river wasn't a heart. In other words, no way would I barrel on a JJ22Q river flush board with air, so I must have the jack. In hindsight, I should have check raised the river as he would have bet $500 and likely folded to a check raise. I underestimated his ability to fold and thought he would pay me off with what I thought was a flush (note: if he had pocket pair I figured he would fold on that river and certainly check behind if I checked, so I concluded betting was optimal for value...I was wrong).
On a side note, that game got tougher after Travis called it a night. We got down to 5 handed and Greg 'FBT' Mueller hopped in the game. He is aggressive and pretty solid. Also, he overbets everything making the game play much more like a 10-20 or 15-30nl.
There are many other tough medium sized pots that I just cannot put to mind right now. However, I want to talk about one more hand that I was not involved in, but illustrates just how sick the Grinder is.
Hand #8:
The Grinder straddles and about 5 people call. He reraises to about $240 and only the internet kid calls. The flop is A86 rainbow. The kid checks and Grinder bets $300 the kid calls. The turn is a J and the kid checks. Grinder thinks for a minute and bets out $600, the kid hesitates and calls. The river is a 3, the kid checks, and Grinder says 'Well, looks like I don't have to bluff the river, I know you have 97 or 910 so that makes my pair of three's good'. Grinder shows 34 off, the internet kid chuckles and says good play your right and mucks.
I'm going to go down and play right now. Its pretty late but I had a nap and am ready to go. I'll try to update by mid week.
Cheers,
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Good 4 Day Stretch
The last 4 days have been poker, poker, and more poker. Overall, I would say I logged an average of 12 hours a day winning in each of my four sessions ranging from $1,200 to just over 5k. The games were good Tuesday and Wednesday and reasonable on Thursday and Friday. In total, my winnings are over 10k. The Wynn classic is well underway and the Wynn is where its at. I'm kind of tired and feeling rather lazy so this will be a rather short post and I don't feel like rehashing hands, will do at some point in future when I'm in the mood to write.
The main difference for me is I'm not getting coolered or rivered on big pots very often as I continue to get the money in good. The only real exception was yesterday getting it all in on a flop with 33 on a 1093 against 109 where my opponent turned a 9.
Travis continues to do well and Danny almost had a great day yesterday placing 11th in the first Wynn classic event. Unfortunately, his 1010 was not good enough to beat JJ on a 1022 board to become one of the chip leaders with 13 to go. Good job anyway buddy!
A bunch of us were supposed to golf today but we all slept in so it'll have to happen next week. I'm gonna probably play another good session of poker tonight as my luck is ok right now and I need to make some more money. I may venture down to the Golden Nugget or Ceasers. The nugget is housing all of the NASCAR guys who apparently like to shoot it up and Ceasers is currently running a big heads up invitational that includes Chris Moneymaker who has been dumping in the side action. I think the $10 cab ride to Ceasers is worth it if I can sit down the Moneydumper. Played with Greg Mueller the other day and he said that Chris dumped about 10k in a couple hours at a 5-10nl. We'll see how the night goes.
Probably will have some time tomorrow to details some of my recent highlight hands so tune back then.
Cheers,
The main difference for me is I'm not getting coolered or rivered on big pots very often as I continue to get the money in good. The only real exception was yesterday getting it all in on a flop with 33 on a 1093 against 109 where my opponent turned a 9.
Travis continues to do well and Danny almost had a great day yesterday placing 11th in the first Wynn classic event. Unfortunately, his 1010 was not good enough to beat JJ on a 1022 board to become one of the chip leaders with 13 to go. Good job anyway buddy!
A bunch of us were supposed to golf today but we all slept in so it'll have to happen next week. I'm gonna probably play another good session of poker tonight as my luck is ok right now and I need to make some more money. I may venture down to the Golden Nugget or Ceasers. The nugget is housing all of the NASCAR guys who apparently like to shoot it up and Ceasers is currently running a big heads up invitational that includes Chris Moneymaker who has been dumping in the side action. I think the $10 cab ride to Ceasers is worth it if I can sit down the Moneydumper. Played with Greg Mueller the other day and he said that Chris dumped about 10k in a couple hours at a 5-10nl. We'll see how the night goes.
Probably will have some time tomorrow to details some of my recent highlight hands so tune back then.
Cheers,
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